CHAPTER 2 – DIODE

CIRCUITS
 CONTENT
1. RECTIFIERS
Half-wave Rectifier
Full-wave Rectifier
Bridge Rectifier
Rectifiers with Capacitor Filter
2. VOLTAGE REGULATORS
ELECTRONIC POWER SUPPLY BLOCK DIAGRAM

Rectification: a
process of converting
an alternating
voltage into one that
is limited to one
polarity
HAVE YOU SEEN A TRANSFORMER?
 Transformers are used to increase or decrease the voltages of alternating current in
electrical power applications.

+
vS
+ + -
vI
vS +
vI vS
-
- -
Transformer turn ratio = N1/N2 = VI / VS Center-tapped transformer
RECTIFIERS – PROBLEM SOLVING TECHNIQUES

Determine the Determine the input

input voltage voltage condition
condition that will that will make diode
make diode turns turns off (cut-off or
on (conducting). non-conducting).
Then, find its Then, find its output
output voltage. voltage.
 HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER
Ideal
 When vS is positive (vS > 0), diode is
forward biased and conducting. Output
vO = vS .
 When vS is negative(vS < 0), diode is
reverse biased and cut-off. Output vO =
0.

Can you determine the output V VDC = VAVG = Vm / 

again, this time assuming PWL vS = Vm sin t
diode model with V = 0.7V.
Vrms = Vm /2
 When vS is greater than V (vS > V),
diode is conducting. Output vO = vS - V
 When vS is smaller than V (vS < V),
diode is cutoff. Output vO = 0.
 FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER USING CENTER-
TAPPED TRANSFORMER – IDEAL DIODE
 During positive half of input cycle,
diode D1 is forward biased and
conducting, while diode D2 is
D1
reverse biased and non-
conducting. Hence, output vO = vS . D2

 During negative half of input cycle,

diode D1 is reverse biased and non-
conducting, while diode D2 is
forward biased and conducting.
VDC = VAVG = 2 Vm / 
Hence, output vO = -vS .
VAC = VRMS = Vm / 2
FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER USING CENTER-
TAPPED TRANSFORMER – PWL DIODE
 During positive half of input cycle, diode D1 is conducting when vS
Can you draw the output
is greater than V (vS > V). Diode D2 is cut-off. Hence, output vO = vS
waveform of full wave rectifier,
- V . assuming PWL diode model with
 During negative
V =half of input cycle, diode D2 is conducting
0.7V.
when vS is smaller than -V (vS < -V). Diode D1 is cut-off. Hence,
output vO = -vS - V .
 FULL-WAVE BRIDGE RECTIFIER – IDEAL DIODE
 The bridge rectifier requires four
diodes, instead of two in the
previous circuit.
 During positive half of input cycle,
diodes D1 and D2 are forward
biased and conducting, while
diodes D3 and D4 are reverse
biased and cut-off. Hence,
output vO = vS .
 During negative half of input
cycle, diodes D1 and D2 are
reverse biased and cut-off, while
diodes D3 and D4 are forward
biased and conducting. Hence,
output vO = -vS .
 FULL-WAVE BRIDGE RECTIFIER – PWL DIODE
 During positive half of input cycle, diodes D1 and D2 are forward biased and
conducting, while diodes D3 and D4 are reverse biased and cut-off. Hence,
output vO = vS - 2V .
 During negative half of input cycle, diodes D1 and D2 are reverse biased and
cut-off, while diodes D3 and D4 are forward biased and conducting. Hence,
output vO = -vS - 2V .
 SOME TERMINONOLOGIES
 Diode Rating or Peak Inverse Voltage (PIV), or Peak Reverse Voltage
(PRV) = maximum voltage that a diode can withstand in the reverse
bias without breaking down.
Vm (half wave rectifier)
PIV = |vR(max)| = 2Vm - V (center-tapped full wave rectifier)
Ideal diode Vm - V (bridge rectifier)

 Rectifier’s efficiency (η) is the ratio of DC output power to the AC input

power, ie,

𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑡(𝑑𝑐) 𝑉𝑑𝑐 2/𝑅𝐿 𝐶

Efficiency, η = = = 𝑥 100%
𝑃𝑖𝑛(𝑎𝑐) 𝑉𝑟𝑚𝑠 2/𝑅𝐿 360𝑜
 HALF-WAVE RECTIFIER WITH CAPACITOR
FILTER (FILTER CAPACITOR)
 A capacitor is added in parallel
with RL of half-wave rectifier to
form a simple filter circuit.
 During positive half of input cycle,
diode D1 will conduct and
capacitor charges rapidly.
 As the input starts to go negative,
D1 is in reverse bias and turns off.
The capacitor discharges through
the load.
 FILTER CAPACITOR OUTPUT WAVEFORM
 The ripple effect is present in the output voltage. The ripple voltage, Vr is
the voltage difference between maximum and minimum voltages.

Vr
 FULL-WAVE RECTIFIER WITH CAPACITOR
FILTER (FILTER CAPACITOR)

Ripple voltage, Vr of full-wave

rectifier with capacitor is smaller
compared to half-wave.
 Example 1
A half-wave rectifier such as shown in Figure 2.2(a) has a 2 k load. The input is a 120
V (rms), 60 Hz signal and the transformer is a 10:1 step- down transformer. The diode has
a cut-in voltage of V = 0.7 V (r = 0). (a) What is the peak output voltage? (b) Determine
γ f

the peak diode current. (c) What is the fraction (percent) of a cycle that vO > 0.
Example 2
The full-wave rectifier circuit is to deliver 0.2 A and 12 V (peak values) to a load.
The ripple voltage is to be limited to 0.25 V. The input signal is 120 V (rms) at 60
Hz. Assume diode cut-in voltages of 0.7 V.
(a) Determine the required turns ratio of the transformer. (b) Find the required value
of the capacitor. (c) What is the PIV rating of the diode?
Example 3 The output resistance of the full-wave rectifier is R = 150 ohm. A filter
capacitor is connected in parallel with R. Assume Vγ = 0.7 V. The
peak output voltage is to be 12 V and the ripple voltage is to be no
more than 0.3 V. The input frequency is 60 Hz. (a) Determine the
required rms value of vS. (b) Determine the required filter
capacitance value.
Example 4 The output resistance of the full-wave rectifier is R = 150 . A filter
capacitor is connected in parallel with R. Assume Vγ = 0.7 V. The
peak output voltage is to be 12 V and the ripple voltage is to be no
more than 0.3 V. The input frequency is 60 Hz. (a) Determine the
required rms value of vS. (b) Determine the required filter
capacitance value.
Example 5 Consider the half-wave rectifier circuit. Assume vS = 10 sin[2π(60)t]
(V), Vγ = 0.7 V, and R = 500 ohm. (a) What is the peak output
voltage? (b) Determine the value of capacitance required such that
the ripple voltage is no more that Vr = 0.5 V. (c) What is the PIV
rating of the diode?
Example 6 The parameters of the half-wave rectifier circuit are R=1k , C=
350 µF, and Vγ = 0.7 V. Assume vS (t ) = VS sin[2π(60)t ] (V) where
VS is in the range of 11 ≤ VS ≤ 13 V. (a) What is the range in output
voltage? (b) Determine the range in ripple voltage. (c) If the ripple
voltage is to be limited to Vr = 0.4 V, determine the minimum value
of capacitance required.
Example 7 A half-wave rectifier circuit is shown. The input voltage, vin is a 60 Hz
sinusoidal waveform with rms voltage of 120V. A 10:1 step down
transformer is used to produce supply voltage, vs.
(i) Let cut-in voltage of diode is V = 0.7V. Calculate and sketch the
waveform of the output voltage, (VO) [6 marks]
 REVISITING ZENER DIODE
 Zener diode consists of a silicon PN junction. When forward biased, it behaves like a
normal diode. When reverse biased, as soon as its reverse voltage exceeds the
breakdown voltage (VZ), current starts to flow through the diode. In this region, the
voltage across diode remains nearly constant while the current varies (small internal
resistance).

Important!!!!
Zener diode operates in reverse
biased region.
 ZENER DIODE MODEL & DIODE APPLICATIONS

 In most circuit analysis, the

small internal resistance, rZ
can be neglected, ie, assume
rZ = 0 Ω.

 Zener diode applications:

(1) Voltage regulation
(2) Voltage overload
protection
VOLTAGE REGULATOR
VS  VZ
RS 
IZ  IL

I L (max) VS (max)  VZ   I L (min) VS (min)  VZ 

I Z (max) 
VS (min)  0.9VZ  0.1VS (max)
 Example 7
Consider the Zener diode circuit shown. Assume VZ = 12 V and rz = 0. (a)
Calculate the Zener diode current and the power dissipated in the Zener
diode for RL = ∞. (b) What is the value of RL such that the current in the
Zener diode is one-tenth of the current supplied by the 40 V source? (c)
Determine the power dissipated in the Zener diode for the conditions of
part (b).
Example 8 Design a voltage regulator circuit so that VL = 7.5 V. The Zener diode voltage is VZ = 7.5 V
at IZ = 10 mA. The incremental diode resistance is rz = 12 ohm. The nominal supply
voltage is VI = 12 V and the nominal load resistance is RL = 1 k ohm. (a) Determine Ri . (b) If
VI varies by ±10 percent, calculate the source regulation. What is the variation in output
voltage? (c) If RL varies over the range of 1 kohm ≤ RL ≤ ∞, what is the variation in
output voltage? Determine the load regulation.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT DIODE AND
RESISTOR FOR A KNOWN LOAD
Let say, as an example, the input is unregulated 12V supply with  0.5V variation, and you
need a stable regulated output of 8V to power a 100mA device (load).

STEP 1: Choose the right Zener diode.

There are many Zener diodes in the market with different
standard Zener Voltages (2.4V, 3.3V, 6.8V, 7.5V, 8.2V,
9.1V, 10V, etc) and with different diode power rating
(500mW, 1.3W, etc). In this example, 8.2V Zener diode is
chosen since it is close enough to the target voltage of
8V.

STEP 2: Estimate maximum current in the circuit, IS

We know that IS = IL + IZ. The load current is100mA. You
can assume IZ to be 10% of IL. This will give a maximum
current of 110mA for IS.
CHOOSING THE CORRECT DIODE AND RESISTOR
FOR A KNOWN LOAD – BEING PRACTICAL
STEP 3: Select the Power Rating of Zener diode
We can use the maximum current in the circuit to calculate the power lost in the diode.
P = 110mA x 8.2V = 0.9W. Therefore, 1.3W power rated Zener diode should be sufficient to
be used in the circuit.

STEP 2: Select Resistor RS

The maximum voltage drop across the resistor, VRs = 12.5 – 8 = 4.5V, and therefore,
according to Ohm’s law, RS = VRs/IS = 4.5V/110mA = 40.9Ω. So, a 43Ω resistor is selected.

STEP 2: Select the Power Rating of Resistor RS

The power rating in the resistor, PRs = VRs x IS = 4.5V x 110mA = 0.495W. Choosing 0.5W 43Ω
resistor is too risky, especially if supply voltage fluctuates even higher. Therefore, to be safe,
a 1W 43Ω resistor is selected for RS.
 COURSE OUTCOME

CO2- Apply the understanding of diodes

in solving rectifier and voltage regulator
circuits